Delta 3200 and Airport Security

semrich

semrich

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Has anyone taken Delta 3200 on a trip and had it go through Security X-ray shot it on a trip and gone through X-ray on the return trip then developed it without problems?
 
mcvr said:
I did carry Neopan 1600 in my handluggage unexposed and exposed without problems (European airports).
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Same here - however, for instance in Prague Airport there is a warning NOT to leave exposed film in checked in baggage: the machines for checked baggage are way stronger than those for hand baggage, so I carried on my exposed Neopan last time over - the film developed ok, but then again I have no way to know how would it look WITHOUT going through the machines :D
 
I had no problem with Neopan 1600, but with TMax 3200 I asked for hand inspection, just for sure.
 
I did. Between Austin TX and Chicago IL. Forgot the film (T-Max 3200) was in my camera bag, and put it through the scanner. Didn't realize about the mistake until I was upacking...

However, when the film was developed by the Dwayne people in KS, there was not one iota of a problem. Go figure... :confused:

In your place, I'd ask for hand inspection. They won't mind.
 
I think I remember reading one article long ago which tested film on how much of an effect does (hand baggage) X-ray has on film. I don't remember where I read this. I think it said their film looked fine until they got up to 6 passes through the machine. This resulted in color streaks on the film, looked sort of like weird light leaks.

I haven't been denied hand inspection yet (except in the ex-USSR, but that was because I didn't use English with them), but the last time I flew was 2 or 3 years ago. This might be different now. It is a hassle though. Most airports I flew through just looked at my film for a little bit and gave it straight back to me. In Heathrow, though, I found that they had a special probe scanner for film cartiges. The security person scanned every single film cartiage I had! This took some time.

If I had to do this again I'd just FedEx the film. If you're persistent I'm sure you will be able to convince the security people in the airports to hand inspect your film, but this can be aggravating sometimes especially when you're switching flights.
 
I put TMZ (EI 1600-6400) through the hand-baggage scanners all the time, sometimes half a dozen scans per trip. It's not an issue, and hasn't been for years. Never put any film in checked baggage; checked bags don't always get scanned, but when they do your film will get cooked, and they post signs warning about that.

You can ask for a hand inspection of film in your carry-on bag in US airports and will get one, just allow some extra time to get through security as a result. Having your film out of the cans and in a plastic bag (I use a Tupperware tub) will facilitate things. For overseas airports, forget it. You may get lucky in some places (Dublin, if it's not too busy), but as far as the major hubs are concerned (Heathrow/Gatwick, Frankfurt, CDG, Narita), it won't happen.
 
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eavis said:
One way around all this is to take Tri-X and push it to 1600 or 3200.
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If its going to be developed as a 1600 or 3200 speed film, starting with a 400 and a plan to push changes nothing... :D

I dont really like Delta 3200 anyways but that aside I have taken it through about 6 carry on xray scans so far with no ill effects.
 
FYI - 120 film, when removed from the foil wrappers, will not trigger metal detectors. And cargo pants are really comfortable when traveling.
 
Like Solares and Chuck, I have run Delta 3200 through the carry-on X-ray x2 (going and coming) with no problems.
 
I had a roll of Delta 3200 loaded in an ME Super that got x-rayed in my hand luggage (in one direction only IIRC). It was shot at EI 1600 and I don't think there was an abnormal amount of grain/fog.

Matthew
 
My thanks to everyone who responded to my question. I find RFF to be a constant source of information and fellow photographers who raise to the occasion when I have questions that can be answered from their direct experience.

It was most helpful that others have not observed any problems with ISO 3200 film that has passed multiple times through carry on X-rays. I'm going to risk a few rolls of 120 and take a folder or TLR along to find out for myself.

I especially liked the information and suggestion, which I wonder why it never dawned on me, about taking the foil off of 120 film and carrying it in cargo pants pockets through the metal detector.

Again, thank you all.
 
The most Delta 3200 passes I have experienced was London (hand search almost impossible) -- Goa -- Bombay -- Goa (again) -- Bahrein. That's 5x. No problem.

Of course this is hand luggage. Checked baggage X-rays, if they are used (they are not always) can write off photographic paper, never mind film. In fact it was a written-off box of paper that first alerted Ilford to the existence of these machines.

Cheers,

R.
 
Hi,

I never had problems with hand baggage up to 3200 speed film. I had a much slower film fogged in a checked baggage scanner at a local airport terminal but that doesn't really count as it was due to user stupidity.

RObert Budding said:
FYI - 120 film, when removed from the foil wrappers, will not trigger metal detectors. And cargo pants are really comfortable when traveling.
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I have usually been given a tapdown the last times I've been flying. I'd expect short cylindrical objects, like 120 film in cargo pants, to be noticed at airport security nowadays.

Philipp
 
the TSA guy at Santa Ana/John Wayne/Orange County/Too Many Names Airport was apparently told that 800 speed or higher film was what his carry- on luggage scanner could affect, although from the posts above it doesn't seem like people have had a problem with this. but that's what they're told to warn about.

here's kodak's opinion on this:
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/tib/tib5201.shtml
 
mackigator said:
Why not err on the safe side and just ask for a hand check? Pack it in clear zip locks and arrive early.
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I have found the security personnel to be remarkably accommodating when asked to hand check even large amounts of film, as long as it has been packed in large, clear zip lock bags. I was surprised.

/T
 
semrich said:
I especially liked the information and suggestion, which I wonder why it never dawned on me, about taking the foil off of 120 film and carrying it in cargo pants pockets through the metal detector.

Again, thank you all.
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This just does not seem like a wise idea to me. Why ask for trouble when it's so easy to put it in a clear zip lock bag and ask for a hand check?

/T
 
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